Bringemovies
← Browse TV Shows
An American Family
TITLE DETAILS

An American Family

1973-01-11 · 60 min / episode · ★ 5.4

Documentary

Originally intended as a chronicle of the daily life of the Louds, a Santa Barbara upper-middle-class family, the groundbreaking program documented the breakup of the family via the separation and subsequent divorce of parents Bill and Pat Loud.

Open detail page

Trailers are previews, not full movies.

No authorized playback source configured. Use the legal watch options below.

Production details

Creators
Craig Gilbert
Production companies
PBS
Countries
United States of America
Status
Ended

Top Cast

Pat LoudSelf
Bill LoudSelf
Lance LoudSelf
Kevin LoudSelf
Grant LoudSelf
Delilah LoudSelf
Michelle LoudSelf
Craig GilbertNarrator (voice)

Title information and images are supplied by TMDb. Explore our discovery guide for advice on comparing metadata and legal viewing options.

Where to watch

Availability provided by JustWatch via TMDb. Offers can change. Provider links are listed on TMDb; full playback requires a separately authorized source.

Availability not listed for this country.

Seasons & episodes

Recommendations

Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos
★ 8.3
Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos2024Documentary

A portrait of celebrated filmmaker David Chase: his life, his career and his groundbreaking work on the HBO original series The Sopranos.

Biography
★ 6.7
Biography1987Documentary

Biography is a documentary television series. It was originally a half-hour filmed series produced for CBS by David Wolper from 1961 to 1964 and hosted by Mike Wallace. The A&E Network later re-ran it and has produced new episodes since 1987. The older version featured historical figures such as Helen Keller and Mark Twain, or long-dead entertainment figures such as Will Rogers or John Barrymore. The A&E series has placed the emphasis on such people as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Plácido Domingo, Freddie Mercury, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Eric Clapton, Pope John Paul II, Gene Tierney, Selena, Diego Rivera, Mao Zedong and Queen Elizabeth II, and fictional characters like The Phantom, Superman, Hamlet, Betty Boop, and Santa Claus. The program ended up profiling enough figures that in 1999, A&E spun it off into an entire network, The Biography Channel.

1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
★ 7.6
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything2021Documentary

In a tumultuous era, 1971 was a year of musical innovation and rebirth fueled by the political and cultural upheaval of the time. Stars reached new heights, fresh talent exploded onto the scene, and boundaries expanded like never before.

History 101
★ 7.1
History 1012020Documentary

Infographics and archival footage deliver bite-size history lessons on scientific breakthroughs, social movements and world-changing discoveries.

The Last Movie Stars
★ 7.0
The Last Movie Stars2022Documentary

A celebration of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward’s iconic careers and decades-long partnership. Director Ethan Hawke brings life and color to this definitive history of their love, lives, and philanthropy.

Arnold
★ 7.9
Arnold2023Documentary

This intimate docuseries follows Arnold Schwarzenegger's multifaceted life and career, from bodybuilding champ to Hollywood icon to politician.

Top Gear
★ 8.0
Top Gear1978Documentary

Motoring programme featuring reviews of and reports about cars of all types.

Disney Gallery / Star Wars: The Mandalorian
★ 7.4
Disney Gallery / Star Wars: The Mandalorian2020Documentary

Executive producer Jon Favreau invites the cast and crew of The Mandalorian to share an unprecedented look at the making of the series. Each chapter explores a different facet of the first live-action Star Wars television show through interviews, never-before-seen footage, and roundtable conversations hosted by Favreau himself.

MegaStructures
★ 7.5
MegaStructures2004Documentary

MegaStructures is a documentary television series appearing on the National Geographic Channel in the United States and the United Kingdom, Channel 5 in the United Kingdom, France 5 in France, and 7mate in Australia. Each episode is an educational look of varying depth into the construction, operation, and staffing of various structures or construction projects, but not ordinary construction products. Generally containing interviews with designers and project managers, it presents the problems of construction and the methodology or techniques used to overcome obstacles. In some cases this involved the development of new materials or products that are now in general use within the construction industry. MegaStructures focuses on constructions that are extreme; in the sense that they are the biggest, tallest, longest, or deepest in the world. Alternatively, a project may appear if it had an element of novelty or are a world first. This type of project is known as a Megaproject.

Earth at Night in Colour
★ 8.1
Earth at Night in Colour2020Documentary

Filmed across six continents, this docuseries uses cutting-edge camera technology to capture animals' nocturnal lives, revealing new behaviours filmed in full color like never before.

Planet Earth III
★ 8.6
Planet Earth III2023Documentary

Journeying to the far reaches of our planet, this eight part series follows some of the world's most amazing species, telling extraordinary stories that are dramatic, thrilling, funny and sometimes heart-breaking, but always full of hope.

NOVA
★ 7.1
NOVA1974Documentary

PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA demystifies science and technology, and highlights the people involved in scientific pursuits.

Death of the Pastor's Wife
★ 7.4
Death of the Pastor's Wife2026Documentary

What happened to Mica Miller? This documentary series retraces her promising life, toxic marriage and the mysterious circumstances of her death.

Doctor Who Confidential
★ 8.0
Doctor Who Confidential2005Documentary

Doctor Who Confidential is a documentary to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly television episode on BBC One. The running time of the first two series was 30 minutes, being extended to 45 minutes in the third. BBC Three also broadcast a cut-down edition of the programme, lasting 15 minutes, shown after the repeats on Sundays and Fridays and after the weekday evening repeats of earlier seasons.

Visible: Out on Television
★ 6.7
Visible: Out on Television2020Documentary

Explore the history of the American LGBTQ movement through the lens of TV in this five-part docuseries. Combining archival footage with new interviews, the series looks at homophobia, the evolution of LGBTQ characters, and coming out in the TV world.

Dynasties
★ 8.3
Dynasties2018Documentary

Follow the true stories of five of the world's most celebrated, yet endangered animals; penguins, chimpanzees, lions, painted wolves and tigers. Each in a heroic struggle against rivals and against the forces of nature, these families fight for their own survival and for the future of their dynasties.

Natural World
★ 7.4
Natural World1983Documentary

Natural World is a nature documentary television series broadcast annually on BBC Two and regarded by the BBC as its flagship natural history brand. It is currently the longest-running series in its genre on British television, with more than 400 episodes broadcast since its inception in 1983. Natural World is produced by the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, but individual programmes can be in-house productions, collaborative productions with other broadcasters or films made and distributed by independent production companies and purchased by the BBC. Natural World programmes are often broadcast as PBS Nature episodes in the USA. Since 2008, most Natural World programmes have been shot and broadcast in high definition.

30 for 30
★ 7.6
30 for 302009Documentary

30 for 30 is the title for a series of documentary films airing on ESPN, its sister networks, and online highlighting interesting people and events in sports history. This currently includes four "volumes" of 30 episodes each, a 13-episode series under the ESPN Films Presents title in 2011–2012, and a series of 30 for 30 Shorts shown through the ESPN.com website. The series has also expanded to include Soccer Stories, which aired in advance of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and audio podcasts. This entry refers to the main Volumes of the series presented by ESPN

Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers
★ 8.1
Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers2022Documentary

This docuseries captures the remarkable rise and unprecedented success of one of the most dominant and iconic franchises in professional sports. Featuring exclusive access to the Buss Family and probing, revealing interviews with players, coaches, and front office execs, this series chronicles this extraordinary story from the inside – told only by the people who lived it.

JANET JACKSON.
★ 7.5
JANET JACKSON.2022Documentary

The documentary takes viewers through Janet Jackson's life and career, contain never-before-seen footage, and feature home videos from the legendary artist. Jackson discusses her controversial 2004 Super Bowl halftime show performance with Justin Timberlake, her father Joe Jackson, the death of her brother Michael Jackson, and more.

Similar titles

Munich '72
★ 6.5
Munich '722022Documentary

Chronicle of the attack perpetrated by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September in the Olympic Village during the 1972 Munich Summer Games.

Télévision (histoires secrètes)
★ 10.0
Télévision (histoires secrètes)1996Documentary

The behind-the-scenes story of French television… This documentary unveils the lesser-known history of two audiovisual decades that have shaped today's television. To explain from the break up of the French broadcasting service ORTF, in 1974, to the creation of Arte, via the birth of Canal+, the life and death of La Cinq and the privatization of TF1 — the succession of political, economic and cultural decisions that have shaped what is known as the “PAF” (French Audiovisual Landscape).

Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model
★ 7.0
Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model2026Documentary

What started as a glamorous launchpad for aspiring models became a pop-culture juggernaut defined by explosive drama, public meltdowns, and controversies that still fuel viral moments today.

James Brown: Say It Loud
★ 8.0
James Brown: Say It Loud2024Documentary

Traces the incredible trajectory of Brown’s life and career from a 7th grade drop-out arrested and jailed at the age of 16 for breaking into a car in the Jim Crow-era South, to an entertainment legend whose groundbreaking talent and unique perspective catapulted him to become a cultural force.

Australia: An Unofficial History
Not rated
Australia: An Unofficial History2025Documentary

Delves into a forgotten vault of Australian government films, unearthing a kaleidoscopic vision of Australia in the 1970s, a decade of political and social change.

Maryland Farm & Harvest
Not rated
Maryland Farm & Harvest2013Documentary

Hosted by Joanne Clendining, Maryland Farm & Harvest takes viewers around the state to see and experience what it's like to run a 21st century farm – from technological advances and conservation challenges to age-old complications such as weather hardships. MF&H also captures the number one reason why planters and growers dedicate themselves to it all: their simple love of farming.

I Love the '70s
★ 8.2
I Love the '70s2003Documentary

I Love the '70s is a decade nostalgia television mini-series produced by VH-1. The series is based on a BBC series of the same name. It examines the pop culture of the 1970s, using footage from the era, along with "Where Are They Now?" interviews with celebrities from the decade. Additionally, the show features comedians poking fun at the kitchiness of what was popular. The first episode of the series, I Love 1970, premiered on August 18, 2003. A sequel, I Love the '70s: Volume 2, appeared in the United States on VH-1 beginning on 10 July 2006.

The Seventies
★ 7.4
The Seventies2015Documentary

A documentary series focusing on the ongoing Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal, evolving music industry, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the sexual revolution, and the rise of foreign and domestic terrorism.

Chile, las imágenes prohibidas
Not rated
Chile, las imágenes prohibidas2013Documentary

4 episode miniseries about the 1973 Coup d'etat in Chile and the dictatorship regime that came with it.

Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan
★ 6.9
Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan2021Documentary

In the late 1970s, an accused serial rapist claims multiple personalities control his behavior, setting off a legal odyssey that captivates America.

California Dreaming – Der Zukunft einen Schritt voraus
★ 8.0
California Dreaming – Der Zukunft einen Schritt voraus2017Documentary

Juanita: A Family Mystery
Not rated
Juanita: A Family Mystery2021Documentary

Journalist Juanita Nielsen's family pursue the truth about her infamous 1975 disappearance. Revelations about Juanita's almost certain murder and remarkable life go to who killed her, why and how justice was denied.

Spain: The 20th Century in Color
★ 4.8
Spain: The 20th Century in Color2022Documentary

Through the birth of cinema and the first images recorded in Spain, this series takes viewers on a journey from the late 19th century to the 1970s across 6 hour-long episodes. An exclusive journey through Spain's history featuring stunning footage colorized for the first time and enhanced with realistic sound design to bring out their vividness and spectacular nature. A captivating yet educational series with lively and emotional narration that offers viewers a new way to experience the past.

Fish Kings Show
Not rated
Fish Kings Show2026Documentary

Devin Zellars takes viewers deep into the night along the legendary Ohio River for an unforgettable catfishing adventure. Armed with skill, passion, and a love for the outdoors, Devin tracks down his first major catch under the stars. The show kicks off the series with grit, excitement, and real storytelling setting the tone for an epic global journey through waters known and unknown.

Fear City: New York vs The Mafia
★ 6.7
Fear City: New York vs The Mafia2020Documentary

New York City in the 1970s was ruled with a bloody fist by five mafia families, until a group of federal agents tried the unthinkable: taking them down.

Los Muchachos Revolution Circus
★ 6.6
Los Muchachos Revolution Circus2024Documentary

In the 1970s, in the midst of Franco's dictatorship, a Spanish circus astonished the world: the Circo de los Muchachos, which was the visible face of Benposta, a children's republic run by Father Silva: the story of the rise and fall of one of the most unique utopias of the 20th century.

Rich House, Poor House
★ 7.3
Rich House, Poor House2017Documentary

Two families from completely opposite ends of the financial spectrum and class divide swap homes, budgets and social status for seven days to discover how the other side lives.

Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult
★ 6.6
Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult2024Documentary

After TikTok dancers join a management company and its associated church, unsettling details about the founder and their dark realities come to light.

Britain's Biggest 70s Hits
★ 1.0
Britain's Biggest 70s Hits2021Documentary

This series revisits the musical highs of a great decade of pop music - the 1970s.

Arnold
★ 7.9
Arnold2023Documentary

This intimate docuseries follows Arnold Schwarzenegger's multifaceted life and career, from bodybuilding champ to Hollywood icon to politician.

Your favorites

Recently viewed

Watch

Choose an authorized server.

Full video from an operator-configured authorized source. Official trailers use a separate player. If a server fails, retry or select another authorized server.

Legal watch options

Official trailer

Trailer preview only. Press Play to start.

Privacy choices

Favorites stay in your browser. Movie images load from TMDb. YouTube trailers contact YouTube only after you allow external media and choose a trailer. Advertising consent, if ads are enabled, is managed separately by the operator’s certified CMP.

Privacy policy

After allowing external media, choose the trailer button to load its player.